What Happens to Daddy's Little Girl When Daddy Is Not Around: Exploring the Impact of Having an Absentee Father on Four Middle Aged, Black Women's Life Choices

This research explores the lives of four middle-aged Black women, between the ages of 49 years old and 56 years old, who all grew to maturity without the benefit of a consistent relationship with a biological father. This research focuses on the influence of father absence on life choices these participants made during youth and as they matured to adulthood. There were two questions asked of these four middle-aged Black women that guided this study: 1) how does having an absentee father affect life choices? 2) how does one share a life story when one reflects on father absence? To address these questions, this study utilized qualitative research methods: a) two focus groups which included all four of the research participants, and b) a personal interview with each of the participants. During the analysis stage of this study, four themes emerged: un-planned pregnancies, abandonment, mother betrayal, and resiliency. The participants generally engaged in early onset sexual activity and promiscuity. As a result, they experienced early pregnancies and abortions; early teen misbehavior and poor performance in school; low self-esteem and persistent feelings of abandonment; and lastly, latent resiliency. These results aligned with the previous research on the effects of father absenteeism on the decision making of young girls. Findings from this study, however, supported conducting more research on the effects of father absenteeism on the decision making of middle-aged, adult Black women. At this time in our sociocultural history, the absence of fathers from the lives of Black girls is increasing quickly and steadily; thus, it is imperative that further research be conducted. This is needed not only to refine knowledge of the effects of fatherlessness at various stages of the maturation process, but also how to best address the possible long-term ramifications of this phenomena for the Black community